Lifeboat crews called out overnight to reports that a swimmer had gone missing at Sea Palling

People are being warned of the dangers of swimming in the sea in the dark after lifeboat crews were called out overnight to look for a swimmer who was reported missing at Sea Palling.

Happisburgh RNLI Lifeboat Station volunteers were alerted to reports of a missing swimmer at the back of a reef at Sea Palling at about 2am today.

The station's Atlantic 85 Howard Bell went to the scene on her first call-out since arriving at the station in May, and while en route crew members were told three people had gone swimming from a camp on the beach and only two had returned.

Sea Palling Lifeboat joined Happisburgh Lifeboat in the search but after some time crews were told by the coastguard that the missing person had been found safe and well.

A Happisburgh Lifeboat Station spokesman said: 'It is never safe to swim in the sea at night, as you lose your bearings very quickly and can get swept away by the tide before you know it. It is also harder for the rescue services to find you. The best advice for swimmers is to always swim between the flags on life-guarded beaches or if this is not possible to always have someone ashore who is able to call for help if anything goes wrong.'

• Happisburgh RNLI Lifeboat Station is having an open day on Sunday, August 6 from 12pm to 4pm.